PAPA POMME'S SURPRISE
For over a year now Philippe, the little Brussels Sprout, had been going
to the market place with Emile Spinach. Mother had to stay at home with
Baby Rose.
Philippe felt himself almost a man now. If only Emile would stay at home
and let him drive the dogs alone! Ah, that would be heaven, indeed.
Another dream was to bring his precious Baby Rose to the market place
some day. Philippe was always wishing wishes.
Rose was so tiny. At first she could only laugh at Philippe's happy face
as he bent over her cradle. She pulled his hair or clutched his finger.
Now she could stand alone and say a word or two. She was beautiful. She
was fair and dainty, and her eyes were as blue as a summer sky. How
Philippe loved his Baby Rose!
Soon Mother had promised to bring her to the market place. What a proud
boy Philippe would be when he might set her upon the low cart on top of
the vegetables and drive her to town! The fine, sleek dogs would be
proud, too, knowing that a rare flower rested upon their vegetable load.
Philippe had a sweet voice and sang a number of Belgian folk songs. He
was beginning to teach his Rose a little vegetable song which he had
made up.
He had a fine plan. He wanted to station Rose in the market place, and
have her sing for the passers-by. How proud the little fellow was of his
baby sister!
Today as he walked along beside the sturdy dogs, he sang gayly. He was
happier than usual. Today an exciting thing was to happen. Papa Pomme
had told him that he would call at the market place and take him to
lunch. Papa Pomme did not often do this. But today he was given the
afternoon to himself.
Papa had put his finger to his lips and said mysteriously to Philippe,
"You shall dine with me, little one; and then, in the afternoon--ah, you
shall see!"
[Illustration: "AH, YOU SHALL SEE"]
So as Philippe walked along, he wondered what surprise his father had
planned for the afternoon. When he reached the market place, or Grande
Place (=grän pläs=), as it is called in French, he helped Emile Spinach
unload the vegetables. Many other farmers were arranging their wares.
Some sold beautiful flowers, and others sold fruits. There were portions
of the square set aside for sellers of birds and dogs and all manner of
different articles.
The Grande Place in Brussels is one of the most beautiful places of its
kind in the world. There stands the city hall, built half a century
before America was discovered. There are many other beautiful, gilded
buildings. The Grande Place in Brussels shines in the splendor of past
glory.
[Illustration: SOME SOLD BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS]
Here sat the little boy, Philippe, and helped sell his mother's
vegetables. He often glanced at the clock and hoped his father would not
be late. He wanted to know what Papa Pomme was planning for the
afternoon.
Papa Pomme was on time. He took his son by the hand. They made their way
to a restaurant, where little tables were placed out on the sidewalk.
Here people sat in leisurely style, eating hearty dinners. The
jolly-faced chef and his little son settled themselves at a corner
table. The menu before them was indeed tempting.
Although Philippe was anxious to know his father's surprise, he could
not allow it to stand in the way of his appetite. How could any boy do
that?
Belgian food is tempting to everyone. It is as dainty as the French
food. It is as wholesome as the Dutch. And it has something about it
that is neither French nor Dutch, but purely Belgian.
Perhaps the reason lies in the fact that Belgium is so small. It is a
matter of only a few hours for vegetables and fruits to travel from a
distant farm to a Brussels table. Therefore, all food is fresh.
Papa Pomme ordered "potage," the famous thick soup, dear to all the
French and Belgians. Then they had a roast, and for dessert,
strawberries and a huge plate of gingerbread. Belgian strawberries and
gingerbread are very famous and are said to be the best in the world.
While they ate, they did not talk. Eating was a serious matter with Papa
Pomme and Philippe.
So absorbed did Philippe become that he forgot his manners. He reached
across the table and pulled toward him the long loaf of French bread.
"Ho, ho!" cried Papa Pomme. "Not so fast! Come! Do you not use your
tongue when you want something which is beyond your reach?"
Philippe blushed. Then he replied stoutly, "Yes, Papa Pomme; but my arm
is much longer than my tongue!"
Papa Pomme laughed and gained another pound. Philippe went on eating
happily.
When they left the restaurant they walked down the street together.
"Papa Pomme, where are you taking me?" asked Philippe, puzzled.
For Papa Pomme was acting in a very mysterious way.
"Do not ask yet!" he said. "Soon you shall see."
Soon Philippe did see. For they stopped in front of a big theater. In
Europe a motion picture theater is called a cinema.
"Now, little Philippe," laughed Papa Pomme, "you know my surprise!"
Philippe threw his cap in the air and shouted, "Hooray! The cinema!"
It was a special treat to the little boy to be taken to the cinema! He
had been to one only once before in his life.
[Illustration: GRANDE PLACE, BRUSSELS]
They were to see a great film today. It was the story of the World War
and the part that little Belgium had played. It showed how the enemy
had started to march through Belgium in order to reach Paris. It showed
how the loyal Belgians and their brave King Albert had helped the Allies
to win their victory by stopping that march.
Long ago a treaty had been made which said that no nation should take an
army through Belgium to attack another nation. If ever such a thing
happened, it was Belgium's duty to stop them. In the year 1914, an enemy
did try to go through her land. Belgium might have neglected her duty.
She might have remained quiet and allowed the enemy to pass. Had she
done this, she would never have been destroyed as she was. The enemy
would have marched quietly through and left Belgium to its peaceful
life.
The film showed how the Belgians fought. Still Belgium could not hold
out against so powerful an enemy. At last she was conquered. But when
that time came, the French were ready, and so were the English. So Paris
was saved.
The audience shouted and clapped. But after that came sighs. The film
showed how pitiful and sad was this poor little Belgium after the war.
That film left in the heart of Philippe a new dream. It was that film
which was really the cause of the little boy's later adventures.